Rjåhornet, Apr 12 2016

Developing a new route

Turstiprosjektet Myrvåg/Tjørvåg is developing a new route from Lake Stemmedalsvatnet to Rjåhornet. In total, we will have 4 routes to Rjåhornet when 2016 comes to an end. This particular route was proposed by me, as it is a very nice route that I’ve frequently done. Today’s mission was to start deploying sticks. We have a depot on the summit so I am fortunate enough to work my way down the mountain.

The new route to Rjåhornet. Markers are sticks deployed today.

This is the only route developed by our trail group that will be marked red on the signposts. Red color suggests that this route is harder than the other routes we support on Gurskøya island. And “harder” in this context does not mean in terms of distance or vertical meters, but it indicates that there is a pitch on the route that is somewhat exposed and that a fall could be bad.

A steep section on the route. The middle part is slightly exposed.

The upper part of the mountain had still lots of snow left, which was an advantage. At this time of the year, the hiking season is well on the way and I could set the route outside the snow fields. Had I done this is in summer, chances are 100% that parts of the route would have run across snow fields next April.

Still lots of snow on the upper part of the mountain

Setting sticks on this route is a time-consuming task. There is solid rock just below the surface and each and every stick should survive the next hurricane. The solution is to jam the sticks between rocks, or if it has to be set on grass – lock it with sharp rocks functioning as “plugs” on all sides.

This one will stay put. For sure.

I do enjoy this activity. We see that the marked routes are getting more and more popular and it’s nice to hear that people who have no previous hiking or mountain experience find their way to the local mountain tops.